Long-distance commuting is still the norm in spite of progress in flexible working practices; while in the UAE only 9% of commuters travel over 90 minutes every day, globally, 20% of workers are faced with a 90 minute daily commute, finds global workplace solutions provider Regus. Globally, cars are by far the most popular form of commuter transport (64%).
Mark Dixon, CEO of Regus, comments: “With 2010’s second rise in petrol costs taking effect in July and as traffic congestion in cities increases, it is disappointing to see that too many workers are still jamming the roads in the rush hour when they could be spending their time more enjoyably or more productively elsewhere.
“To tackle the damaging effects of commuting on staff health and morale, savvy businesses are introducing more flexibility in their working practices and are seeking workplace solutions that allow their staff to work closer to home. Remote working and flexi-time can provide a much needed break in the weekly commuting routine and also translate into office space and maintenance savings.”
In the UAE car use is much more wide-spread (79%) than average. Other popular modes of transport are taxis with 12% of respondents respectively choosing these means to get to work. Among the least popular modes of transport in the UAE are cycling and motorbike driving with less than 1% preferring these way of traveling.
Further pain commuters are forced to face is in the cost of travel. While on average 7% of commuters globally spend 10% or more of their salary on commuting, in the UAE the average spend for commuting is 4% of yearly salary. Nevertheless, 8% of respondents spend 10% or over of their yearly take-home salary to fund their commute while 14% spend between 5-10%.
With medical research indicating that commuting-induced stress can be responsible for raised blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders, increased hostility and adverse effects on cognitive performance, Regus regularly survey its 1million+ business contacts base to discover the extent of their commuting.
